Method of preparing soles



Slept. 18, 1934. Q E HOOD 1,973,762

METHOD OF PREPARING SOLES Original Filed 0012. l, 1929` s. -A s 62 Eg. 4.

Patented Sept. 18,l 1934 METHOD OF PREPARING SOLES Charles E. Hood, Lynn, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Original application October 1, 1929, Serial No. 396,554. Divided and this application October 6, 1933, Serial No. 692,487

Claims.

This invention relates to methods of preparing soles involving the application of a coating substance to the soles and is illustratively described by reference to a machine which may be utilized 5 for carrying out the method. This machine is claimed inmy copendingl application Serial No. 396.554, filed October 1, 1929, for improvements in Coating machines, of which' this application is a division.

In the manufacture of shoes of the so-called cement process type in which the sole of the shoe is attached to the overlasted upper of the shoe by means of cement or other adhesive, it is customary to apply a coating of cement to the marginal portions of the attaching surface of the shoe sole some substantial period of time before the sole is actually secured to the shoe, as well as to apply cement to the overlasted marginal portion of the upper on the bottom of the shoe. 'I'he cement is allowed to dry on both sole and shoe before the shoe is broughtto the sole-attaching machine, where the sole is pressed against the shoe and caused to'adhere thereto. In many cases the cement to be utilized is a pyroxylin cement which dries relatively quickly and which, at the same time, may be easilyr softened or revived by the application of any one of a large number of solvents such as acetone, amyl acetate, ethyl alcohol, benzol and the like. These solvents, while they attack the cement and soften it very quickly, are almost universally very volatile liquids. It is well understood that the rate of action ofl the solvent may be slowed down by the introduction of pyroxyln in the solvent, yet it is equally welly understood that such a slowing down of the action of the solvent also increases the time required to dry out the cement and is, therefore, objectionable because of the increased time during which mechanical apparatus for clamping the sole upon the shoe must be retained in position. The longer the time required for drying out the cement the greater the amount of apparatus which-'must be" employed and hence the greater theinvestment required for any particular production. .l

Although it will be understood that the practice varies considerably between different shoe manufacturers, the commony practice has been for the manufacturer to utilize a solvent of moderate drying speed and to apply this solvent to the sole by means of a brush which has to be dipped in the solvent two or 'three times for completing the sole. Furthermore, it vhas been previously -intimated that the a. tion of the solvent upon the cement is rapid and the result of this is to make it diilicult to apply the solvent'evenly to the 'sole through anoperatingrod:

because, if a solvent of even moderate speed is employed, the portions of the sole first coated are likely to become dried out again before the portions coated last have been iinished and the sole and shoe are brought together.

In applying solvent to thepreviously coated attaching surface of a shoe sole it is desirable to .treat the whole cementedsurfacesubstantially simultaneously as by partial immersion without allowing the liquid to be applied to the tread face of the sole, partly because it is not desired to smear or stain the tread surface of the sole, but also to avoid waste of the rather expensive solvent material employed.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved method of preparing soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement, which involves the activation of the previously applied coating of cement upon the attaching surface of a shoe sole by coating the whole of the cemented area of the sole with solvent vsubstantially simultaneously. aspects the invention comprises the bringing to" gether of the surface of a body oi.-= liquid andthe attaching surface of a sole, thereby to apply solvent substantially simultaneously tothe `whole of the cemented area. As illustratively described, the cemented surfaces of the sole may dip in a. bath of solvent and the depth .of partial immersion of the sole limited. thereby to prevent lcoating the tread surface of the sole. Conveniently,- the sole may be brought toA a predetermined posi-l, tion with respect to the surface of the bathof solvent and then moved through a predetermined path for a fixed distanceto another position where the cemented surface of the `vsolewill dip in the liquid solvent to a depth less than the thickness of the sole.

Although my method may be carried out in various ways. it is'conveniently accomplished by the use of the machine of my. prior application, as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine;v

' Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machinev with one side broken away and in section transversely Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine with the cover removed; and l Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section showing how the presser member moves a sole and the grida definitely limited distance kto bring the lower, here the attaching, surface of the sole just belo.:`r the surface of the liquid.

In general, the method may be carried out by In other ,E

indicated by the dash line 12. In this receptacle there is mounted for up-and-down movement a. work-supporting member in the form of a grid 14 normally held in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that its upper surface is above the surface of the liquid but capable of being depressed to the position shown in Fig. 4 where its upper surface is just below the surface of the liquid.

AThis grid 14 is constructed of a series of crisscrossed bars forming closed meshes, open at the top and bottom, and notches 15 are provided in the upper edges while other notches 17 are provided in the lower edges of the bars. These upper notches allow air, which may be pocketed inthe meshes, to escape between a piece of work and the top of the grid, and the two sets of notches allow a free flow of liquid contained within the meshes of the grid so as to avoid any pumping action which might splash liquid on the upper surface of the work.

'I'he receptacle, as will be evident from an 1nspection of Fig. 2, has openings in its base constituting passageways or guideways 16, enlarged at 18 to form abutments, and having their upper ends above the level of the liquid. In these guideways are a pair of upright rods 20 bolted to the upper ends of which is a presser plate 22 having a median rib 24 which terminates in outspreading lugs 26. The lugs 26 are cupped (Fig. l) to receive the upper ends of springs 28 holding the presser plate 22 normally elevated. The lower ends of these springs are positioned in suitable recesses (not shown) formed in lateral ledges or shelves 30 (Fig. 3) one at either side of the receptacle, into which the guideways 16, 18 open. Operating means such as a treadle (not shown) may be secured by -a treadle rod 32 to a cross-bar 34 held upon the rods 20 by set screws 36. When the treadle is depressed, the presser plate 22 is lowered. 'Ihe grid 14 has a pair of oppositely extending flanges 40 which are apertured for the passage of the rod 20 and which rest upon the upper ends of short stiff springs 42 received within and resting upon the abutments formed at the bottoms of the enlarged portions 18 of the guideways 16. These springs surround, and are thereby held in position b`y, the rods 20 and hold the grid with its upper surface in a predetermined position normally just above the liquid level 12. Downward movement of the work-supporting grid 14 in a predetermined path through a fixed distance is definitely limited by contact of the grid with the bottom of the receptacle and by contact of the flanges 40 with the shelves 30 (Fig. 4) so.

that the top surface of the grid may be carried only just below the predetermined level of the liquid. 'I'his prevents the sole from being carried deep enough into the solvent' to lcoat its tread surface.

In .view of the volatile nature of the liquid to be employed, the operating parts of the machine are substantially enclosed by providing a cover 44 for the receptacle 10, thereby reducing the loss by evaporation and maintaining a fog of solvent vapor in the machine. An-inlet opening 46 of limited size in the end of the receptacle 10 and about as Wide as the soles to be coated is positioned well below the top cover and above the liquid level, adjacent to and substantially opposite to the space between the presser member 22 and the work-supporting grid 14. 'Ihis allows a piece of work such as a shoe solel 48 to be laid upon the grid 14fbefore the presser is brought down and, without interfering with easy use of the machine, substantially reduces the evaporation of the liquid in the receptacle and affords a pocket to maintain therein a cloud of vapor which assists in the cement-softening action of the machine. The novel method of securing together a shoe sole and a shoe which involves the retention of the sole in a cloud of vapor such as is formed in this machine is not claimed herein, however, as it forms the subject-matter of Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,967,337, granted July 24, 1934, on an application of Max W. Tetlow.

As herein shown, liquid is supplied to the receptacle 10 and maintained at the level indicated by the line 12 by means of an inverted air-tight can 50 having a threaded neck 52. Surrounding this neck and adjustably positioned thereon is a collar 54 which supports the can on the receptacle so that, by turning the ,can with respect to the collar, the relation of an outlet opening 56 at the bottom of the neck of the can with respect to the receptacle 10 may be adjustedk and predetermined. This relation will determine the level of the solvent in the receptacle. To facilitate the application of the supply can 50 to the receptacle without spilling the contents, said can is provided with a pivoted closure 58 having an opening .60 and held tightly against the end of the neck 52 by a spring 62. The can may be inverted and positioned with the collar 54 resting upon a ledge provided by an extension 64 of the receptacle 10 with the closure 58 turned to such position that the opening 60 therein "is not in register with the opening 56. After the can has been positioned upon the extension 64 of the receptacle a sliding plunger 66 may be pushed into engagement with a notch in the edge of the closure 58 to hold the latter against rotation and the can rotated to bring the openings 56 and 60 into register with one another. When removing a partly empty can from the receptacle, the operation is reversed and the spilling of the liquid avoided. It should be noted that the plunger 66 is slidably mounted in a block 68 secured to the extension 64 and is provided with a knurled handle 70 so that it may be pulled back out of engagement with the closure 58 in case it is desired to rotate the can 50'with respect to the collar 54 to adjust the level 12 of the liquid in the receptacle without changing the size or condition of the outlet opening 56-60. The collar 54 has a pair of latches 72 pivoted on it the lower ends of which are hooked to engage suitably shaped flanges (not shown) along the sides of the extension 64 of the receptacle.

In mounting the machine upon'a bench 81 a rigid plate 74 is preferably provided which is screwed to the surface of the bench and which furnishes ,a smooth surface to support the machine. The machine has a leg 76 at one end and a pair of adjustable supports 78 at the other end which are threaded into the bottom of the receptacle 10 and are held in adjusted position therein by nuts 80. In setting up the machine theliquid may be brought substantially to the desired level 12 and the machine tilted by adjusting the supports 78 to bring the surface of the liquid into substantially par relation with the tOp of the grid 14. It will be nOd that the l Lerares bench 81 is apertured at 82 (Fig. 2) to provide for the passage of the operating rods 20, and at 84 to allow for drawing off the solvent through a petcoc'k 86 at the close of operations or when it becomes necessary to clean out the machine.

In the use of the device, the receptacle 10 is supplied with liquid from the can 50 which is brought to the desired level 12 by rotating said can as described so that the normally unobstructed surface of the upper surface of the liquid is just above the surfaceof the grid 14 in its depressed position. A sole 48, 4which in some instances will be substantially at and will in other cases be molded as herein illustrated in dotted lines, is then laid upon the grid 14. After this the treadle is operated to bring the presser 22 against the upper or tread surface of the sole to flatten the sole out upon the grid 14, thus serving to bring the cemented surface to a level position parallel to the surface of the liquid and then to depress the grid into theexposed surface of the open bath of liquid to bring the sole 48 and the grid 14 to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 where the lower or attaching surface of the sole is in direct contact with the body of liquid just below the level 12 thereof and is immersed therein. Pressure upon the treadle is then released, allowing the springs 42 and 28 to restore the operating parts to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 whereupon the sole may be removed from the machine by taking hold of the projecting heel end of the sole which usually is not coated with adhesive and hence need not be coated with solvent.

As the sole 48 is held against the upper surface of the grid by the presser member 22, air is likely to become imprisoned in those meshes of the grid which are closed at the top by the sole. This air is allowed to escape, however, through the notches of the -grid bars as the grid is de-l pressed so that the liquid will flow freely into all meshes of the grid and coat the under surface of the sole. It should be noted that certain of the meshes of the grid are not completely covered by the sole, but there can be no pumping action through these partially closed meshes upon depression of the grid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of preparing soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cement to the attaching surface of a sole, allowing the cement to dry,

positioning the sole over a free' body of liquid solvent, and dipping the cemented surface of the sole in direct contact with the free surface of the` liquid solvent to a depth less than the thickness of said sole in such a manner that the sole surface being immersed is maintained substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid.

2. The method of preparing molded soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cement to the attaching surface of a molded sole, allowing the cement to dry, flattening the molded sole, and dipping the cemented surface of the flattened sole in a body of solvent to a limited depth thereby to activate lthe cement upon the sole while protecting the uncemented tread surface of the sole from the application of solvent.

3. The method of preparing molded soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cement to the attaching surfacey of a molded sole, allowing the cement to dry, and applying a single actuating force to the sole to flatten it and to bring the cemented surface of the flattened sole into contact with the body of solvent to a limited depth thereby to activate the cement upon the sole while protecting the uncemented tread surface of the sole from the application of solvent.I

4. The method of preparing soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cement to the attaching surface ofy a'sole, allowing the cement to dry, bringing the cemented surface of the sole to a level position predetermined with respect to the surface of a bath of liquid solvent, moving the sole through a predetermined path to dip the cemented surface of the sole in the liquid solvent to a depth less than the thickness of said sole with the immersed sole surface a fixed distance substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid.

5. The method of preparing soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cementto the attaching surface of a sole, allowing the cement to dry; gripping the sole in a position above a bath of liquid solvent with the cemented surface of the sole substantially parallel to the surface of the solvent, and then moving the cemented surface a fixed distance to another position parallel to the first position where the cemented surface is-beneath the surface of the liquid solvent a distance less than the thickness of the sole.

CHARLES E. HOOD.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1, 973, 762.

`September 18, 1934.

CHARLES E. HOOD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 114, claim 4, strike out the words "a fixed distance";

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform .tothe record ot the case iu the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of November, A., D. 1934.

(Seal) es l ie Frazer i Acting ommissioner ofPatents.

Lerares bench 81 is apertured at 82 (Fig. 2) to provide for the passage of the operating rods 20, and at 84 to allow for drawing off the solvent through a petcoc'k 86 at the close of operations or when it becomes necessary to clean out the machine.

In the use of the device, the receptacle 10 is supplied with liquid from the can 50 which is brought to the desired level 12 by rotating said can as described so that the normally unobstructed surface of the upper surface of the liquid is just above the surfaceof the grid 14 in its depressed position. A sole 48, 4which in some instances will be substantially at and will in other cases be molded as herein illustrated in dotted lines, is then laid upon the grid 14. After this the treadle is operated to bring the presser 22 against the upper or tread surface of the sole to flatten the sole out upon the grid 14, thus serving to bring the cemented surface to a level position parallel to the surface of the liquid and then to depress the grid into theexposed surface of the open bath of liquid to bring the sole 48 and the grid 14 to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 where the lower or attaching surface of the sole is in direct contact with the body of liquid just below the level 12 thereof and is immersed therein. Pressure upon the treadle is then released, allowing the springs 42 and 28 to restore the operating parts to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 whereupon the sole may be removed from the machine by taking hold of the projecting heel end of the sole which usually is not coated with adhesive and hence need not be coated with solvent.

As the sole 48 is held against the upper surface of the grid by the presser member 22, air is likely to become imprisoned in those meshes of the grid which are closed at the top by the sole. This air is allowed to escape, however, through the notches of the -grid bars as the grid is de-l pressed so that the liquid will flow freely into all meshes of the grid and coat the under surface of the sole. It should be noted that certain of the meshes of the grid are not completely covered by the sole, but there can be no pumping action through these partially closed meshes upon depression of the grid.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of preparing soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cement to the attaching surface of a sole, allowing the cement to dry,

positioning the sole over a free' body of liquid solvent, and dipping the cemented surface of the sole in direct contact with the free surface of the` liquid solvent to a depth less than the thickness of said sole in such a manner that the sole surface being immersed is maintained substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid.

2. The method of preparing molded soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cement to the attaching surface of a molded sole, allowing the cement to dry, flattening the molded sole, and dipping the cemented surface of the flattened sole in a body of solvent to a limited depth thereby to activate lthe cement upon the sole while protecting the uncemented tread surface of the sole from the application of solvent.

3. The method of preparing molded soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cement to the attaching surfacey of a molded sole, allowing the cement to dry, and applying a single actuating force to the sole to flatten it and to bring the cemented surface of the flattened sole into contact with the body of solvent to a limited depth thereby to activate the cement upon the sole while protecting the uncemented tread surface of the sole from the application of solvent.I

4. The method of preparing soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cement to the attaching surface ofy a'sole, allowing the cement to dry, bringing the cemented surface of the sole to a level position predetermined with respect to the surface of a bath of liquid solvent, moving the sole through a predetermined path to dip the cemented surface of the sole in the liquid solvent to a depth less than the thickness of said sole with the immersed sole surface a fixed distance substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid.

5. The method of preparing soles for permanent attachment to shoes by means of cement which consists in applying cementto the attaching surface of a sole, allowing the cement to dry; gripping the sole in a position above a bath of liquid solvent with the cemented surface of the sole substantially parallel to the surface of the solvent, and then moving the cemented surface a fixed distance to another position parallel to the first position where the cemented surface is-beneath the surface of the liquid solvent a distance less than the thickness of the sole.

CHARLES E. HOOD.

CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1, 973, 762.

`September 18, 1934.

CHARLES E. HOOD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 114, claim 4, strike out the words "a fixed distance";

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform .tothe record ot the case iu the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 13th day of November, A., D. 1934.

(Seal) es l ie Frazer i Acting ommissioner ofPatents.

CERTIFICATE or conREcnoN.-

Patent No. 1,973,762. September 18, 1934.

CHARLES E. HOOD.

lt is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 49, for "rod" read rods; and page 3, line 114, claim 4, atrike out the words "a fixed distance"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this'5th day` of February, A. D. 1935.

i' Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

